as in red lights
something that tells of approaching danger or risk
the résumé she accidentally left on the office printer was a red flag that she was planning to quit
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Recent Examples of red flags
Don’t ignore the red flags… but don’t jump to conclusions either.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Other red flags are alterations, cross-outs or erasures.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
From stagflation warnings and stalled Iran talks to rising oil prices, red flags are everywhere.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
But Don always saw the red flags.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 28 Apr. 2026
The Nuremberg rallies were simply political stage plays, with music from Wagner, drums, symmetrical marching formations, red flags, and gatherings often held in darkness to heighten the mood.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
The survey found 95% of Oregon’s voting-age population registered, which raised red flags in a state where every voter is mailed a ballot.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Later searches also raised red flags to deputies, according to the filing.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Other red flags that indicate a partner may kill include unemployment, substance use, problematic drinking, controlling or jealous behavior, abuse during pregnancy, rape and prior threats of suicide or with weapons.
—Kathryn Spearman, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Other red flags are alterations, cross-outs or erasures.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
From stagflation warnings and stalled Iran talks to rising oil prices, red flags are everywhere.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
But Don always saw the red flags.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 28 Apr. 2026
The Nuremberg rallies were simply political stage plays, with music from Wagner, drums, symmetrical marching formations, red flags, and gatherings often held in darkness to heighten the mood.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
The survey found 95% of Oregon’s voting-age population registered, which raised red flags in a state where every voter is mailed a ballot.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Later searches also raised red flags to deputies, according to the filing.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Other red flags that indicate a partner may kill include unemployment, substance use, problematic drinking, controlling or jealous behavior, abuse during pregnancy, rape and prior threats of suicide or with weapons.
—Kathryn Spearman, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flags
Noun
-
And none of those three wins has been a simple lights-to-flag victory, given how sluggish his car is when the five red lights go out.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
4 May 2026
-
As police surrounded him, blue and red lights flashing, Williams could come up with only one possible reason for an arrest.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
As Chicago begins laying the groundwork for its next budget — amid warnings of deficits and difficult choices — the same familiar debate is taking shape.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
But new research by Caplan-Auerbach and many others, published today in Science, shows that subtle clues could help provide early warnings.—
Megan I. Gannon,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
There were signs of rodent entry in some structures on the couple’s property.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
There have been signs of progress in recent games.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Red flags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flags. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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